Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Riverview
8 km²
Sitting in the heart of Ipswich, Riverview is a small residential suburb with a strong First Nations presence. It is a community where many families are headed by single parents and typical incomes are well below national figures. The area is predominantly made up of detached houses and is characterised by a population that is slightly younger than the state average, though it has seen a rise in seniors since 2011. This suburb faces significant challenges with health and employment, making it one of the most disadvantaged areas in the region.
The area's schools rate above its broader socio-economic standing.
Families are well catered for: 13 schools serve Riverview.
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First Nations people make up 10.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. While children under 15 are much more common here than in most areas, the typical resident is 37, and the number of seniors has risen to 18.9%.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 20.2% were born overseas, a figure that has fallen since 2011. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, each accounting for 31.8% of the population.
English is the main language for 72% of residents, and 14.4% use another language at home. A slightly higher proportion of people speak little or no English compared to the state average.
About 42.3% of people report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 21 percentage points since 2011. Christianity is the most common faith at 37.9%.
Education levels are far below the national average, with only 7.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also much lower than most areas at 38.8%, though this has risen since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are well below the national figure at $1,097. Very few residents earn high wages, with only 6.8% of households bringing in $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common here, as 39.2% of people have a long-term health condition and 16.2% have a mental health condition. This is far above the state and national averages. Additionally, 14.3% of people need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care for others is high at 15.4%, though volunteer rates are well below the national figure. There is also a higher proportion of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.
First Nations residents face significant hardship, with an unemployment rate of 28.6%, which is far above the national average of 12.3%. Typical personal incomes for this group are also among the lowest in the region.
One-parent families are very common, making up 29% of households, which is far above the national average of 14.1%. About 27.1% of people live alone.
The suburb is almost entirely detached houses, with 96.2% of homes being separate dwellings. Renting is very common at 49.6%, though typical weekly rents of $270 are much lower than the national figure.
Public transport use is higher than in most areas, supported by a high number of bus stops. However, 10.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national average.
About 35.8% of the population moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen significantly since 2011.
Working or looking for work is far less common here than elsewhere, at only 42.5%. The unemployment rate is 13.3%, which is well above the national average, and many residents work as labourers or machinery operators.
Riverview is one of the most disadvantaged areas in the region, scoring 1 out of 10 for overall advantage. This is linked to low job skills and limited access to money and resources.
The area receives an average annual rainfall of 951mm, which is far above the Queensland average. Average maximum temperatures are slightly lower than the state figure.
Most homes are within a short walk of a park, school, or public transport stop. However, very few people can walk to groceries or health services within 15 minutes.